Loading machine



w.y SCHLUIER, 1R.'

LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.29, 1921.

Patented May 9, 1922. 3 SHEES-SHEET l.

RII@ II W. SCHLUTER., JR.

LOADING MACHINE.

APPLICATloN FILED MAR.29. \92|.

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W. SCHLUTER,1R. LOADING MAcHlNE. APPLICTION FILED MAR. 29, 1921.

Patented May 9,1922

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

faz/enfer ATENT OFFC WILLIAM SCI-ILUTER, JR., OF BELLAIRE, OIE-E10, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO C, H, DANKWORTH AND ONE-THIRD TO G. W, DANKl/VORTH, BOTH OF BELLAIRE,

OHIO.

LOADING MACHNE.

laisses.

Application filed March 29, 1921.

T0 @ZZ w 7mm t may concern Be it kno'wn that l, lll/vitraux SGHLUTER, Jr., a citizen of the United States of Amer-- ica, and resident of Bellaire, county of Belmont, and State of Chio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loading Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to loading apparatus, and more specifically to a power driven scoop and conveyor for loading materials in cars or the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an apparatus or machine whereby coal or other loose materials may be rapidly and economically handled in loading cars for transportation, and which is especially adapted ttor use in mines and other' places affording limited overhead space.

A further object is to provide a powerdriven machine of the character' mentioned which embodies traction means whereby it may be propelled forward and back without the use of trackways and whereby it may be readily shifted as required to present the scoop thereof at any desired angle to the material acted upon.

A still further object is to provide an eilicient and practical shovel or scoop which requires a minimum of space in its operation.

lilith these and other important objects in view, the invention resides in the features of wnstruction, arrangement of parts and combinations of elements which will hereinafter be fully described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of the invention, showing the scoop in the position ocA cupied at the end of its advance stroke;

Figure 2 is a similar view of the front end of the machine with the scoop thereof occupying dumping position;

Figure S is a similar view, showing the scoop in retracted position;

Figure el. is a view in top plan with a portion of the conveyor broken away;

Figure 5 is a section taken substantially on line 5-5, Fig. l, illustrating the means for driving the conveyor; l

Figure 6 is an enlarged top plan view of the automatic clutch-shifting mechanism for effecting intermittent actuation of the scoop.

Specification of Letters Patent.

`lzvtcnted May 9, 1922.

Serial No. 455,724.

Figure 7' is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line'7--7, Fig. 6;

Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of the driving means'whereby the scoop actuating levers are driven, showing the gearing foi' reversing the tractor; and- Figure 9 is a sectional elevation on line 9 9, Fig. 8.

Referring' to said drawings, in which like designating characters distinguish like parts throughout the several viewsl indicates the endless travelingl treads ofa tractor' of the caterpillar type, the, Sam@ being carried by wheels il mounted on axles 3 and 4l. Suitably carried by said axles is a .fra-me which comprises parallel side members 5 having a platform (S mounted on the rear end thereof. An electric motor 7 mounted on said platform or other suitable mounting has a worm 8 mounted on its shaft 9 and disposed in operative relation with the worm gear l0 loosely mounted on a transverse shaft ll carried in bearings 12 supported by said frame. A shiftable clutch 13 carried by said shaft is movable into and outof engagement with said worm gear for operatively connectingsaid shaft to said gear. Also loosely mounted on said shaft ll is a pinion 14 which is permanently disposed in mesh with a gear l5 iixed on a shaft 16 located parallel to and rearward of said shaft ll, said shaft 16 being journaled in bearings 17 suitably mounted upon the frame or the platform.

Carried upon the outer ends of the shaft l() are crank arms 18 each of which has a wrist pin f1.5) connected by a pitman 2l) to a similar pin 2l carried by a member or slide 22 which is slidably mounted upon the ad jacent side member 5 of the frame, said crank arms and said pitmen being adapted, when said shaft 16 is rotated, to impart reciprocating sliding movements to said slides.

Mounted upon a pivot ypin Q3 carriedby each of the slides 22 is the rear yend of a lever 9A; constituting a support upon which is carried av shovel or scoop 25 designed for taking up loose or incoherent material, as coal, and delivering the same to an inclined conveyor which comprises an endless traveling belt or apron 26. Said apron comprises transverse slats carried by sprocket chains 27 carried by sprocket wheels 27 and 28 located respectively at the front and rear ends of the machine, said Wheels 27 having the shaft 2S by which they are carried journalcd in bearings 29 supported by the frame on a suitable low-level, While the Wheels 28 are elevated to an appropriate height for supporting the parts of the conveyor above and in non-interfering relation to the drivegrearing of the machine. As: herein shown, the Wheels 28 are carried in substantially upright side members or guards located laterally of the apron 26, and said guards are in turn supported on tie uprieht ams 31 carried Cn the ends of a transi erse bar which surmounts a vertical threaded supporting?,- stem` Said stem is threaded through 'thc hub of a hand Wheel which rests upon a bar 3l carried bv standards 35 rising' from the frame of the machine. As is obvious, adjustment of the elevation of the rear end of the covevor is effected by rotation of the adjusting- Wheel Motion is communicated to the apron bv a chain 'T9 connecting sprocket wheels 8O and 81 carried respectively7 bv shafts 11 and 28.

lthiitahlv carried by the front end of the frame is a stationary forwardlv-facing guard-like plate 3G which extends from the upper edge of the front end of the conveyor enclosure approximately to the `ground level and which has Width closely7 approximating? the internal Width of the scoop. Said plate or guard 36 constitutes, in effect, a back for the scoop, which latter is open at its rear end as Well as at its front end.

The scoop is operable from its farthest retracted position. shown in Fig. 3, to its most advanced position, shown in Fig. 1, for taking' up a load of the material acted upon, and is thence elevated to the inclined position shown in 2, iu which its load is delivered bv gravita' through the open rear end thereof to the front end of the conveyor. .fis the scoop is thus eleated, the guard 8G retains the material in thescoop, or prevents the material from passing;l out through the open rear end of the scoop.

fis hereinbefore indicated, the slides 22 are actuated to reciprocate, motion being' communicated thereto b v rotation of the shaft 1G through the intermediacy of the crank-arms 1S and pitmcn 9.0. Obviously, therefore, the scoop 25, Which is connected to said slides through the levers Q4, is also reciprocated, the opposite limits of the reciprocation being` shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

rlhe elevation of the scoop from the adnced position shown in Fig. 1 is effected following' its forward thrust to said position bv means of mechanism which swings the. scoop-carrying` levers or arms 2li upward with the pivot pins serving` as fulcrums. Said mechanism includes pitmen 37 Which have their rear ends mounted on Wrist pins 3S carried bv crank arms 39 fixed on opposite ends of the shaft 1l.

lWhen the machine is in operation said shaft 11 is continuouslyT driven; hence, the pitnicn 37 are continuously actuated, but, as will hereinafter be explained, this actuation is without eect except When the scoop is at the limit of its forward thrust in position to he elevated.

Carried by the shaft 11 is a clutch 40 Which is shiftable into and out of driving engagement with the pinion 14 which, as hcrembefore stated, is loosely carried by said shaft. Said clutch a() is associated With mechanism whereby it is shifted out of engagement ivith said pinion at the end of each revolution of said shaft and then is reengaged ivith said pinion at the end of the next succeeding revolution, the purpose being' to actuate rota-tion of the shaft 16 only at alternate revolutions of the shaft 11. Since the circumference of the gear 15 is just double that of said pinion la, it is apparent that but one-half a revolution is imparted to the shaft 1G at each actuation thereof. Thus, at one actuation, the shaft 1G advances the scoop from its rearmost to its foremost position, as for taking,` up a. load, then remains stationaif)7 during a complete revolution of the shaft 11Y during' which time the scoop is elevated to and returned from its dumping,- positionI` as Will hereinafter be explained, and then at the next actuation retracts the scoop to its initial position in Which it underlies the front end of the frame, such retraction being` permitted since the scoop has no rear end closure and the sides of the scoop are arranged to straddle the frame.

The means or mechanism by Which the clutch 4-0 shifted into and out of operatii'e relation to the pinion 1413, as aforesaid, at regular intervals comprises a gear Wheel i-1 fixed on the shaft 11 in mesh with a similar scar Yfixed on a countershaft jour.- nailed in bearings al carried by the platform (E. A disk l5 larried b v said countershaft presents a cam face i6 which, in the rotation of the cam, is traifersed b v a roller i7 carried by a side of a shifter arm i8 that has one end pivotallv mounted, as on a statii'mary lug' L19, and its oppositie end operativelyY associated with said clutch. A compression soring 50 interposed between said arm and an adjacent stationary7 lug` sti ,vieldinglv maintains said arm in its outwardly thrustposition. it Will thus be apparent that, during the time that the roller if? 'travels over the highest surface presented bv the face of the disk Li5, the clutch will be held out of engagement With the pinion against the tension of the spring' 50; and that, as the roller drops to thc loiver surface of said disk, the clutch will intereng'age with said pinion.

The pitmen 37 Which form parts of the mechanism for swinging the scoop to and from dumping position, as aforesaid,v have their front ends pivotally attached to the upper ends of blade-like rockers 51 which are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends upon the side members 5 of the frame at an appropriate point. Each rocker 51 carries upon its outer face a roller 52 which, when. the slides 22 reach their farthest advanced positions, is contacted by the upper rear edge of a substantially upright blade 58 carried by, or formed integral with, the rear end of the adjacent scoop-carrying arm 24. Then, upon rearward reciprocating movement of the pitman 87, which acts to swing the upper end of said rocker 51 rearward, a force is exerted through the said roller 52 acting upon the front edge of said blade which impels the arm 24 to swing upon its pivotal mounting to the position shown in Fig. 2. A roller 54 is carried on vthe inner face of the lower portion of the arm S24 which also travels in engagement with the rear edge of the lower end of said rocker o1. With the return, or forward, thrust of the pitmen 87 the scoop-carrying arms 24 are lowered to their normal positions. Immediately following such return of the scoop supporting arms, the same are drawn rearward in the manner hereinbefore explained for returning the scoop to initial position.

As shown, the arms 24 are mounted upon trunnions 55 formed on the sides of the scoop, and having brackets 56 disposed for furnishing additional support thereto. Said l arms have upwardly and forwardly inclined front end extensions 24 provided with open seats 57 in which, when the scoop occupies its normal horizontal postion, are received laterally extending arms or trunnions 58 carried by the sides 'of the scoop. Due to the recited manner of attaching thearms 24 to the scoop, the latter is free to tip up to an inclined position, as when., in returning from its elevated dumping position, its front end seats upon a ground elevation or underlying material which prevents 'its assuniing horizontal position. This construction also enables the scoop to be advanced over rough or uneven surfaces in a manner which would be impossible if a rigid connection were provided between the scoop and its supporting arms.

Power for driving the tractor is transmitted,

first, from the shaft 11 to a suitably located countershaft 59, as by means of a sprocket chain 60 passed over sprocket wheels 61 and 62 carried by said shafts, said sprocket wheel 62 being loosely carried by said countershaft and being adapted to be operatively ing ends of said yoke members are two smaller intermeshing gears 66 and 67 of which the former is permanently in mesh with said gear 64. Said yokehas attached thereto a hand lever or rod 68 by means of which it may be swung on said countershaft 59 to dispose either of said gears 66 or 67 into operative engagement with a gear 71 which is fixed on a shaft for driving the latter, the direction of rotation of said shaft 70 being dependent upon which of said gears 66 or 67 assumes operation relation to its said gear 71.

Mounted on said shaft 70 is a sprocket wheel 69 which is connected by a chain 72 to a similar sprocket 73 fixed upon a sleeve '74 which is rotatable upon the rear axle 4 of lthe tractor and which is journaled in bearings 75 formed on a bracket 76 depending from the platform or other suitable frame member. The opposite ends of said sleeve are dentated for interengagement with two opposite clutch members 77 and 78 either or both of which is shiftable on said axle with respect to said sleeve. Each of said clutch members is so related to the adjacent wheel 2 of said axle that the latter is actuated to rotate therewith.

1t will thus be understood that when it is desired to advance the tractor, the clutch 63 is shifted into operative relation to the sprocket wheel 62, and the rod 68 is thrust forward to present the gear 66 into like relation to the gear 71. Then,ywith both of the clutches 77 and 78 in operative relation to the sleeve 74, both tractor treads 1 will be actuated to travel forward. lhen, on the other hand, it is desired to turn the machine, or to shift the same around so that it will. present the shovel ata different angle to the work, but one of said sleeve-engaging clutches may be shifted into operative position, in which case the driven tractor' tread will impel the machine to turn in a minimum of turning space.

lVhen it 'is desired to cause the tractor to reverse, or travel rearward, the rod 68 is drawn-rearward to dispose the gear 67 iu operative relation to the gear 71 foractuating the last mentioned gear rearward.

Suitable levers, as 82 and 83, are provided whereby the clutches 77 and 78, may be shifted.

1t will be noted that the frame of the machine is supported on the rear axle 4 by means of suitable bearings 84, while it is wholly dissociated from the front axle 3. A transverse shaft 85 mounted in opposite channel bar members 86 which connect said axles carries cams 87 having their faces in underlying supporting yrelation to the sides 5 of the machine frame. By rotary movement of said shaft 85, effected in any appropriate manner, as by meansof a hand lever 88 on the end of said shaft, the elevation Cil oit the iront end of said machine iframe may be adjusted either to present the iront end of the machine, including the scoop, on its proper operating level or to hold said front end, with the scoop, suf'liciently elevated to permit of unhindered travel of the machine, as when it is desired to move the latter from one place to another. In such adjustment, the rear axle et serves as a fulcrum upon which the frame swings as on a hinge or pivot.

`What is claimed iS- 1. A. loading machine comprising a tractor, a trame carried thereby, slides mounted on said trame, means 'for reciprocating said slides, arms pivoted to said slides, a scoop pivotally connected to said arms, and means acting upon said arms at the limit of the forward movement of the scoop for elevating said arms to scoop dumping position.

2. A loading machine comprising a scoop, supporting arms connected to said scoop., means 4t'or reciprocating` said arms, and means lor actuating said arms to and 'from elevated scoop-dumping position at the end oit each forward stroke ot said reciprocating means, the latter remaining inactive during operation ot' said elevating means.

3. A loading machine comprising a scoop, means for reciprocating` said scoop, a conveyor having its front end in overhanging relation to said scoop when the latter oc cupies its retracted position, and means operating at the limit ot' the forward thrust of said scoop to actuate the latter to and from elevated dumping relation to said conveyor, Said reciprocating means remaining inactive during operation of said scoop to and from dumping position.

l. A loading machine comprising a scoop, means for intermittently imparting co Aiplete reciprocating` movements to said scoop, a conveyor having its front end located in overhanging .relation to said scoop when the latter occupies its retracted position, and means operating at the limit ot the forward thrust ot said scoop to actuate the latter to and troni elevated dumping relation to said conveyor.

5. A loading machine comprising a frame, a conveyor super-posed over said iframe, a scoop having its opposite ends open, intermittently reciproca-ting means carried by said frame for retracting and advancing said scoop, means operating at the limit ot the forward thrust ot said scoop to actuatc the latter to and -from elevated dumping relation to said conveyor, and a guard ar ranged to cooperate with the open rear end ot said scoop for retaining material in the latter until dumping position is assumed.

6. A loading machine comprising a frame, a conveyor superposed over said fra-me, a scoop having its opposite ends open, supporting arms attached to said scoop, intermittently reciprocating means connected to said arms whereby the latter are actuated to retract and advance said scoop in an approximately horizontal plane, a statioi'iary guard plate which is straddled by said scoop during reciprocation ot the latter, and means operating in the interval between reciprocations to actuate said scoop to and from dumping relation to said conveyor, said guard being located to cooperate with the open rear end ot said scoop for retaining material in the latter during the elevating movement until dumping position is assinned.

7. A loading machine comprising a trame, a conveyor superposed over said trame, a scoop having its opposite ends open, supporting arms attached to said scoop, intermittently reciprocating means connected to said arms whereby the latter are actuated to retract and advance said scoop in an approximately horizontal plane, and means operating in the interval between reciprocations to swing said arms for elevating' and lowering said scoop, respectively, to and from dumping relation to said conveyor, and stationary means disposed to close the rear end of said scoop' during` elevating movement of the latter.

8. A loading machine comprising a trame, a conveyor superposed over said trame, a scoop having its opposite ends open, snpporting arms attached to said scoop, intermittently reciprocating means connected to said arms whereby the latter are actuated to retract and advance said scoop in an approximately horizontal plane, a stationary guard plate which is straddled by said scoop during reciprocation ot the latter, and means engageable with said arms whereby the latter are actuated in the interval between reciprocations to move said scoop to and from dumping position with respect to said conveyor, said guard cooperating with said scoop during elevation ot the .latter tor retaining material therein.

5). A loading machine comprising a trame, a constantly rotated shaft carried by said trame, a countersha'ft, intermeshing` gears carried by said shafts, one of said gears be ing loosely mounted, a clutch for operatively connecting said gear to its shaft, automatic means for shifting said clutch at the end of each revolution of its shaft and whereby said gears are actuated at alternate revolutions to eiect rotation oit said countershaft, a scoop, means intermediate said countershai't and said scoop whereby a complete reciprocation. is imparted to the latter with each revolution ot the former, and means reciprocated by said constantly rotated shaft whereby said scoop is actuated to and from elevated dumping position during the interval between reciprocations ot the scoop.

10. A loading machine comprising a frame, a constantly rotated shaft carried by said frame, a countershaft, intermeshing gears carried by said sha-fits, one of said gears being` loosely mounted, a `clutch for operatively connecting,- said gear to its shaft, automatic means for shifting said clutch at the end of each revolution of its shaft and whereby said gears are actuated at alternate revolutions to effect rotation of Said countershaft, a scoop, arms carrying said scoop, means intermediate said countershaft and said arms whereby the latter are reciprocated for retracting and advancing said scoop at each revolution of' the :toi-mer, and means reciprocated by said constantly rotated shaft and adapted to coact with said arms whereby the latter are actuated during the interval between reciprocations thereof toswing said scoop to and from elevated dumping position.

` l1. A loading machine comprising a caterpillar tractor, a frame superposed thereon, a scoop, intermittently actuated means for reciprocating said scoop, a conveyor mounted on said frame, and constantly reciprocating means arranged to actuate said scoop to and 'from dumping relation to said conveyor' during` the interval between reciprocations of said scoop.

In testimony whereof, I aliX my signature in presence of two subscribing' witnesses.

WILLIAM SCHLUTER, JR. Witnesses:

G. O. SMITH,

JAMES P. BAoHMAN, Jr. 

